Redwood City mother makes volunteering a full-time job

By Diana Samuels

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
05/30/2011 08:11:30 PM PDT

Updated:
06/02/2011 09:20:46 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Tina Basler poses for a portrait with her twin sons Joe, left, and Will at Whole Foods in Redwood City on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Basler is active in the music and athletic booster clubs at Woodside High School.
(Kirstina Sangsahachart/ Daily News)

After the kids graduate from high school, leave the nest and go to college, most dedicated parents hang up their school volunteer hats.

Not Tina Talistu Basler.

After her twin 18-year-old boys graduate in a few days from Woodside High School, Basler tentatively plans to return in the fall to help put out the weekly Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) electronic newsletter. She's done that every year since her sons were freshmen.

How long will she continue? "Until they find someone else," says Basler, a 52-year-old Redwood City resident.

It's difficult to imagine anyone investing the same level of energy and effort into the newsletter, which is far more than a typical bulletin. One recent edition was an epic 32-page compilation of upcoming events, grad-night ticket and graduation DVD order forms, and dozens of Basler's photos of students at events such as a Polynesian assembly, a softball game and a dance show.

In addition to helping produce the newsletter, Basler has participated in Athletic Boosters, Drama Boosters and Music Boosters, and is the current PTSA secretary. She also sits on the school's shared decision-making council, a group of school stakeholders who handle everything from scheduling issues to new education initiatives.

Advertisement

Basler also teaches Sunday School at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.

"It's probably easier to list the things she doesn't do," said Woodside Principal David Reilly, who nominated her as one of The Daily News' unsung heroes. He described Basler as a "permanent fixture" in the school community.

"She's very magnetic, she's very outgoing," Reilly said. "She really goes out of her way to make people feel welcome and included."

At student performances, Basler can always be heard saying "good luck" or "break a leg," said parent Eva Wellington, who met her six years ago when their children were in junior high. When students are done, she tells them "great job."

"You want a smile, go to Tina," Wellington said.

Basler has been volunteering since her sons, Will and Joe, were in elementary school at Henry Ford in Redwood City.

"Once I had my kids in school, I was like, how can I stay in touch with what is happening in their lives when so much of their time is spent away from me?" she said.

Many parents back away from school volunteering as their children get older, Basler said. But she believes parents need to be there for their kids in their teen years, to reinforce the good behavior encouraged by coaches and teachers.

"Quite frankly, I am the parent you want to be embarrassed about," Basler said. "I'm a fat mom and I'm loud. But my kids have never said to me 'Please don't show up.'"

She has been a constant presence at her sons' musical performances, wrestling matches and football games, camera in hand. She posts the hundreds of photos she takes on Facebook and includes them in her newsletter.

"If you have been in my sphere, I've got your picture, man," she said.

Basler said she spends about 20 to 30 hours a week on school volunteer work, in addition to her job as an office manager at Potter Drilling Inc., a Redwood City-based startup working on new techniques for drilling hard rock. She works 7½-hour days so she can spend her afternoons at Woodside.

"It's just like really fun," said Basler, who expects to dial back her involvement after her sons graduate. "We are so blessed to have so many good kids in our community and I'm going to miss it."

But Basler could soon find herself busier than ever. Reilly said he and others have been trying to convince her to run for school board, possibly in the Redwood City School District.

Basler says she won't run right away, but by no means is she ruling out the possibility.